Responsible for Council Tax & Utilities if I leave contract early?.

[daRb_81]

Hi, I would appreciate any advice on this matter.
I have verbally notified my Letting Agent that I intend to break the shorthold tenancy agreement (that ends 18/09/08 with no break-clause) and leave in 6 weeks time from when I declare this intention to the Letting Agent in writing.
I'm trying to type up the surrender letter now, but there are just a few things I need to clarify beforehand because I'm not sure whether this makes me liable for tax and utilities in the same manner that it does for rent.

In my contract, under my obligations as a tenant, I must:

"# Pay for the reconnection of water, gas, electricity or telephone if the disconnection results from any act or omission of the tenant or the tenants agents.

Does breaching the contract early qualify as an 'act' or 'omission' on my behalf?.
I intend to notify suppliers of my leaving the property just as I would had I left legally in september, but could the LL/LA count disconnection in this manner as an 'act' which makes me liable to pay for reconnection, even if the property is left vacant?

## Pay the council tax, or any replacement tax (even of a novel nature), in respect of the property for the term of this agreement, unless the tenancy is lawfully terminated.

Where do I stand with Council Tax if I vacate the property early in breach of agreement?, am I liable for this on top of the rent, from the wording it seems as though I am as I don't think what I'm doing counts as a 'legal termination'?.
Should a surrender agreement include an agreement that the leaving Tenant is not responsible for any more Council Tax after the early leaving date?.

###Pay a 50% share of the costs & disbursements in relation to the preparation of the inventory and "check out" at the end of the tenancy. The other 50% to be payed by the Landlord."

This clause I just don't understand. The inventory is 2 pages of photos taken before I moved in of appliances, and a note the property was newly decorated + new carpets & cooker. What 'preparation' does an inventory need, and how would it have a monetary cost?.

I just need to get an idea of the sort of things it's wise to agree on in a early-surrender notice basically, to cover my ass.

[Steve__M]

Regarding the inventory, some people arrange for professionals to prepare the inventory and to manage the checkout. Hence "disbursements" - the money paid by the agent to the inventory clerk. For my partner's house, doing a checkout took the clerk 3-4 hours!

Fees for reconnection of utilities are only relevant if the house were cut off because you didn't pay the bills etc. or if you damaged the telephone wire such that the new tenant had to pay for an engineer - those would be "omissions".

Not sure about your first question. I think you are liable for the rent until the proper end of the tenancy (assuming the landlord attempts to relet it and fails to find a tenant) - or until the place is re-let. I guess you may also be liable for the bills too, though if the property is empty and unfurnished the council tax should be nil for six months. Some councils also give a discount for empty furnished properties.

You should probably ensure the property is properly marketed as soon as you let them know.